Queensland Ballet | Extra performance of sold-out season of The Nutcracker to fund Dancer Retraining Fund

Queensland Ballet | Extra performance of sold-out season of The Nutcracker to fund Dancer Retraining Fund

Queensland Ballet has added an extra performance to its sold-out Christmas season of The Nutcracker. Tickets went on sale at 9am this morning.

The extra performance of Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker will be on Friday 13 December at 1.30pm, bringing the total number of performances to 17.

This is the third performance added to the original Nutcracker season due to audience demand.

Artistic Director Li Cunxin is very excited: “We are overwhelmed by how quickly The Nutcracker has sold out. It demonstrates Brisbane’s appetite for our annual tradition of The Nutcracker at Christmas.”

The profits from the extra performance will go towards establishing a Queensland Ballet Dancer Retraining Fund. The Fund will provide assistance through grants and training aimed to support and guide dancers through the transition from a performing career.

“Reaching the end of their performing careers can often be challenging for dancers. We are committed to ensuring our dancers are prepared for their future off stage,” said Li.

Tickets for the extra performance are expected to go quickly. “If you miss out on tickets to this year’s Nutcracker, I encourage you to purchase a Season 2014 package to secure your tickets to this magical ballet in 2014,” said Li.

With sparkling dance, stunning sets by Tom Boyd and sumptuous costumes by Desmond Heeley and Noelene Hill, Ben Stevenson’s acclaimed production of The Nutcracker is the perfect festive celebration for the whole family.

The extra performance is to recorded music, but Tchaikovsky’s fantastic score again will be performed by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Andrew Mogrelia for the rest of the season.

The story

When midnight strikes, young Clara’s enchanted Christmas gift leads her into a wondrous world…

With the valiant Nutcracker at her side, Clara defeats King Rat and his giant mice, and journeys to the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. There, the Sugar Plum Fairy bids everyone to dance in her honour.

The history

The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

The libretto is adapted from ETA Hoffmann’s story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. It premièred at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg on 18 December 1892.

Although the original production was not a success, the short orchestral suite that Tchaikovsky extracted from the ballet score found instant public appeal. The complete Nutcracker ballet has enjoyed enormous popularity since the late 1960s and is now performed by countless ballet companies across the world, primarily during the Christmas season.

Booking details

5 – 21 DECEMBER, PLAYHOUSE QPAC

Thursday 5, 7.30pm SOLD OUT
Friday 6, 7.30pm SOLD OUT
Saturday 7, 1.30pm SOLD OUT
Saturday 7, 7.30pm SOLD OUT
Tuesday 10, 6.30pm SOLD OUT
Wednesday 11, 7:30pm SOLD OUT
Thursday 12, 7.30pm SOLD OUT
Friday 13, 1.30pm
Friday 13, 7.30pm SOLD OUT
Saturday 14, 7.30pm SOLD OUT
Tuesday 17, 6.30pm SOLD OUT
Wednesday 18, 1.30pm SOLD OUT
Wednesday 18, 7.30pm SOLD OUT
Thursday 19, 1.30pm SOLD OUT
Friday 20, 1.30pm SOLD OUT
Friday 20, 7.30pm SOLD OUT
Saturday 21, 1.30pm SOLD OUT